The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

She is still not 100 per cent, but Shaunae Miller wanted to show her fitness level as she gets ready for her first trip to the Commonwealth Games next month.

Competing in her first 400 metres since suffering an injury that sidelined her for the inaugural IAAF World Relays Bahamas, Miller won the women’s 400 metre title at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ BTC National Championships.

Her time of 51.86 seconds at the original Thomas A Robinson stadium was fast enough to qualify her for her second major international meet this year. She picked up a bronze at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot.

“I just thank God for allowing me to come back healthy. I had a long season of injuries, but at least I’m getting back in shape and getting back to race form, so I’m pretty happy about how things went,” Miller said.

“The race was a little crazy. I got out a little too slow. I took it a little too easy for the first 200 and then I tried to get back into it from there.”

All four members of the women’s 4 x 400 metre relay team at the World Relays in the absence of Miller trailed the IAAF World Youth and Junior champion.

Lanece Clarke, 27, got second in 52.43, Olympian Christine Amertil, the veteran of the field at 35, was third in 52.94 and Grand Bahamians Shakeitha Henfield (53.72) and Miriam Byfield (54.04) were fourth and fifth respectively.

“The race went according to plan. After the World Relays, me and my coach George Cleare went back to the drawing board and we worked on some technical things. It’s coming along,” Clarke said.

“I got out and I got to the 200 like my coach wanted me to and from there, I just executed. I have some goals set in mind. I haven’t reached it there, but I’m getting there.”

Clarke said she was finally privileged to have gotten to compete against Miller, noting that all of the other competitors helped to make it an interesting final.

There was expected to be some excitement in the women’s sprints, but as it turned out, Anthonique Strachan was head of the class, taking the straight away century race in 11.33. Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson was not too far behind in 11.38, Cache Armbrister got third in 11.59, Nivea Smith was fourth in 11.69 and V’Alonee Robinson got fifth in 11.74.

“The start of the race was not what I expected because we didn’t have any rounds. We just had the straight final. But all in all, it was still good. We all ran well, we all came out of the race healthy and so we couldn’t ask for a better situation from all of the athletes,” Strachan said.

“For the crowd, we didn’t have that hype effect for the 100. The crowd just wasn’t there. Usually you would like to know that they are there cheering for you. Right now, I’m trying to take everything one day at a time. I’m just trying to stay healthy and hope for the best.”

Smith came through with the win in the 200m in 23.08 with Clarke getting second in 23.41.

An impressive performance also came from Grand Bahamian Shaquania Dorsett in the under-18 girls 400m. She ran 54.99 to qualify for the World Junior Championships. Dreshanae Rolle was second in 56.35.

“I feel good that I won. I felt I should have ran a little faster, but I made the team, so I’m pleased with that. I just have to work on my form,” Dorsett said.

Also securing her berth on the team for the World Juniors was Keianna Albury, the winner of the under-20 girls 200m in 11.75, well ahead of Loushanya Neymour (12.04) and Carmiesha Cox (12.06), who is coming off an injury.

Albury also doubled up in the 200m with the order reversed between the other top three. Albury won in 23.81, Cox was second in 24.35 and Neymour got third in 24.56.

The BAAA introduced a couple of female competitors who are hoping to migrate to the Bahamas to compete on the national teams in the future.

The three finished 1-2-3 in the women’s 100m hurdles. Yvana Hepburn-Bailey took the tape in 13.21, followed by Kendra Newton in 13.49. Demetria Edgecombe was third in 13.58. Crystal Bodie got fourth in 13.61 and Petra McDonald was fifth in 13.96.

“This is my first time coming to the Bahamas championship. I love it. I wanted to run in the new stadium, but this was good,” said Hepburn-Bailey, who is hoping to be cleared to compete at the Commonwealth Games.

“It was hot, it’s very low-keyed, so I think that helps the athlete to stay focused. I like how they have the new surface for the warm up. It really helps to prepare you for your event. I hope to continue to work hard and hopefully fulfil my dream of competing for the Bahamas.”

On the field, Tamara Myers won the open women’s triple jump with 13.24m (43-5 1/5) over Anthonique Butler (11.75m or 38-6 3/4). But Bianca ‘BB’ Stuart repeated as the national champion in the long jump with 6.65m (21-10), leaving Myers in second with 6.39m (20-11 3/4) and Butler in third with 5.21m (17-01 3/4).